Chemical-heater



R. E. KIRTL'EY.

' CHEMICAL HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1919.

Patented Jan. 11 1921.

RICHARD E. KIRTLEY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CHEMICAL-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed March 24, 1919. Serial No. 284,644.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD E. KmrLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas Citv, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chemical- Heaters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a chemical heater adap ed for use in heating chemicals for dissolving accumulations in oil wells.

The reticulated lining in soft sand wells and pores or capitularies in hard sand wells are liable to become clogged with paraffin and asphaltum so that the wells cease to produce. These hydro-carbon accumulations can be dissolved by introducing heated oil into the well.

According to my invention, means is provided whereby the chemical may be heated by gas generated in the oil-containing chamber due to the rise in temperature of the oil so that a self-contained plant is provided and this plant is mounted upon wheels whereby it may be conveniently'transported from place to place.

In the drawings, 7

Figure I is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a device con tructed in accordance with my invention, the gas receiver being shown partially in elevation.

Fig. II is an end view of the device, and

Fig. III is a cross sectional view through the same.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I employ a truck 1 on which are mounted wheels 2and 3, the latter having swinging connection with the truck at 4 whereby the vehicle may be guided. The truck is adapted to support a furnace 5 provided with a grate 6 beneath the chemical reservoir at 7. The chemical reservoir is adapted to discharge through a pipe 8 whereby the chemical may be introduced into a well, it being understood that a sufiicient length of pipe may be attached to the pipe 8 to accomplish the purpose desired.

The outlet pipe 8 may be closed or opened by a valve 9.

The chemical may be introduced into the reservoir 7 through an inlet 10 which also serves as a gas accumulating chamber normally closed by a weighted cover 11, hinged to 10 at 12 and provided with a balance weight 13 so that in the event abnormal pressure is generated in the reservoir 7, the cover 11 may be raised to permit the escape thereof and thereby serve the purpose of a safety valve. 14 is a smoke stackwhich may be provided with a damper 15 if desired.

Leading from the reservoir 7 is a gas pipe 16 discharging into the manifold 19 communicating with the gas burners 20 and 21, the discharge ends 22 of which are beneath the reservoir 7. The pipe 16 may be provided with a valve 23 whereby it may be opened and closed.

17 and 17 are air and oil tanks respectively, which communicate with burners 20 and 21 to supply fuel thereto.

Initially the chemical, for example, oil in reservoir 7, may be heated by any suitable means as, for example, by the burners 20 and 21 supplied by the tanks 17 and 17 or the fire-box so as to cause the temperature to rise sufliciently to generate vapor or gas in the receiver 17. As soon as the lighter particles of oil have been volatilized, the valves 24:.and 24 in pipes 25 and 25' may be closed and valve 23 may be opened so as to permit the gas in reservoir 7 to pass to the burners 20 and 21 immediately under the reservoir whereby the gas gener ated within the reservoir 7 may be converted into heat to maintain the oil in reservoir 7 at the desired temperature.

'Itwill be obvious that as the oil in reservoir 7 is maintained at the desired temperature, sufiicient gas will be generated to provideenough fuel under the reservoir with.- out the necessity of introducing heat from any other source. hen the temperature of the oil in the reservoir is high enough, the valve 9 may be opened and some of the heated oil may be introduced into the well to dissolve the parafiin and the asphaltum.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letpipe leading from the gas chamber into the ters Patent is: casing beneath the tank, and an oil reservoir 10 An oil heater comprising a furnace conconnected to the pipe between the gas chamsisting of a casing, an oil tank Within the casher and the portion of the tank extending 5 ing and spaced therefrom to provide a heatinto the casing.

ing space about the major portion of the In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. tank, the tank having a gas chamber projecting through the top of the furnace, a RICHARD E. KIRTLEY. 

